Device for covering and concealing buttons

ABSTRACT

A plastic device for detachably covering and concealing a button employs a first horizontal plate having at least one opening therein. A second horizontal plate spaced from the first plate is secured to one end of a hollow cylinder having opposite open ends and closes same. A living hinge integrally secures a portion of the periphery of the other open end of the cylinder to a peripheral portion of the first plate. The device has an open position at which the other end of the cylinder is out of engagement with the first plate and has a closed position at which said other end of the cylinder is in mating engagement with the first plate. The cylinder and the first plate are provided with detachable locking engagement means which are spaced apart when the device is in the open position and which are disposed in locking engagement when the device is in closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One type of cover for detachably covering and concealing buttonsattached to shirts, blouses and the like is well known in the at asshown for example in U.S. Pat No. 5,161,285. Typically, such covers havea closure plate having an opening so constructed that the plate can beslid between the button and the shirt with the button fastening threadsextending through the opening. A separate cap is placed over the plateand engages it at right angles to seal off the button. A hinge connectsthe cap and covert The hinge can be a separate element o can be securedto the plate. The plate and cap are separate elements.

The present invention is directed to a device which can be used as a newtype of button cover. This device is formed entirely of plastic with acap and a cover being integrally connected by a living hinge. Such aplastic structure is much less expensive than known covers. However,this structure as thus far described has been found to be unsatisfactorysince the cover and cap lacked sufficient structural strength for secureengagement, whereby the structure would tend to become loose and notfunction properly.

This problem of insufficient structural strength for secure engagementhas been overcome in the present invention by incorporating cooperatingdetachable securing means into the device, whereby secure detachableengagement is automatically obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved device for use as a button cover.

An other object is to provide a new and improved device of the characterindicated that is formed entirely of plastic and which incorporatescooperating detachable securing means for obtaining secure detachableengagement.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will either beexplained or will become apparent hereinafter.

In accordance with the principles of this invention, a device fordetachably covering and concealing a button is composed entirely ofplastic. The device employs a first horizontal plate having at least oneopening therein as well as a hollow cylinder having opposite open ends.A second horizontal plate is spaced from the first plate, the secondplate being secured to one end of the cylinder and closing same. Aliving hinge integrally secures a portion of the periphery of the otheropen end of the cylinder to a peripheral portion of the first plate.

The device has an open position at which said other end of the cylinderis out of engagement with the first plate and having a closed positionat which said other end of the cylinder is in mating engagement with thefirst plate. The cylinder and the first plate are provided withdetachable locking engagement means which are spaced apart when thedevice is in the open position and which are disposed in lockingengagement when the device is in closed position. These cooperatingdetachable securing means are incorporated into the device in order toobtain secure detachable engagement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the invention asshown in open position.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment as shown in closedposition.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 showns the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 in position to engage abutton.

FIG. 7 shows the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 in open position andengaging this button.

FIG. 8 shows the embodiment as shown in FIG. 5 in closed position andengaging this button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the device shown is used for covering andconcealing a button and is composed entirely of plastic.

The device utilizes a first horizontal circular plate 10 having at leastone opening therein. The opening includes a central circular region 12connected by a slot 14 having the shape of a trapezoid to the periphery,the larger base of the slot 14 defining an opening in the periphery ofthe plate. A peripheral portion of plate 10 is secured by a living hinge16 to a peripheral portion of one open end 18 of a hollow circularcylinder 20. The opposite open end of the cylinder is closed by a secondhorizontal circular plate 22.

The device has an open position at which the open end 18 of the cylinderis out of engagement with the first plate and has a closed position atwhich said other end of the cylinder is in mating engagement with thefirst plate. In order to provide suitable secure detachable engagement,the cylinder and the first plate are provided with detachable lockingengagement means which are spaced apart when the device is in the openposition and which are disposed in locking engagement when the device isin closed position.

To this end, the plate 10 is provided with first and secondequidistantly spaced prongs 24 which extend upward at right angles tothe plate and the cylinder is provided with first and secondequidistantly spaced tubes 26 which are parallel to the axis of thecylinder and are secured to the inner surface of the cylinder. Each tubehas one end essentially coincident with the end 18, this coincident tubeend having a prong receiving recess 28 adapted to receive and contain acorresponding prong. Once prongs and recesses are in locking engagement,the plate 18 must be pulled away from the cylinder in order to disengagethe prongs from the recesses.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate the use of the device. With the device in openposition, the plate 10 is slid behind a button 30 with its securingthreads 32 sliding into the opening in the plate 10. Once plate 10 isdisposed in proper position, the cylinder is swung downward until theprongs and recesses are engaged, thus concealing the button. The processcan be reversed as desired to remove the device from the button withoutany damage to button or device.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to thepreferred embodiment and to the drawings, the protection sought is to belimited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for detachably covering and concealing abutton having a thread secured thereto, said device being composedentirely of plastic and comprising:a first horizontal plate having atleast one opening therein, the opening defining a slot through whichsaid thread can extend, the first plate being disposed behind the buttonwith the thread extending throught the slot when the device is in use; ahollow cylinder having opposite open ends; a second horizontal platespaced from the first plate, the second plate being secured to one endof the cylinder and closing same; a living hinge integrally securing aportion of the periphery of the other open end of the cylinder to aperipheral portion of the first plate; said device having an openposition at which said other end of the cylinder is out of engagementwith the first plate and having a closed position at which said otherend of the cylinder is in mating engagement with the first plate, saidcylinder and said first plate provided with detachable lockingengagement means which are spaced apart when the device is in the openposition and which are disposed in locking engagement when the device isin closed position, the button being concealed when the device is inclosed position.
 2. A device for detachably covering and concealing abutton having a thread secured thereto, said device being composedentirely of plastic and comprising:a first horizontal plate having atleast one opening in the form of a slot through which said thread canextend, the first plate being disposed behind the button with the threadextending throught the slot when the device is in use; a hollow cylinderhaving opposite open ends; a second horizontal plate spaced from thefirst plate, the second plate being secured to one end of the cylinderand closing same; a living hinge integrally securing a portion of theperiphery of the other open end of the cylinder to a peripheral portionof the first plate; at least one prong secured to the first plate andextending at right angles thereto; at least one tube secured to theinner surface of the cylinder and extending parallel to its axis withone tube end being essentially coincident with the other end of thecylinder and having an opening which defines a prong receiving recess;said device having an open position at which said other end of thecylinder is out of engagement with the first plate and having a closedposition at which said other end of the cylinder is in mating engagementwith the first plate, said prong and said prong receiving recessdefining detachable locking engagement means which are spaced apart whenthe device is in the open position and which are disposed in lockingengagement when the device is in closed position, the button beingconcealed when the device is in closed position.
 3. The device of claim2 wherein the first plate has two equidistantly spaced prongs whichextend at right angles to the plane of the plate, and the cylinder hastwo equidistantly spaced tubes parallel to the axis of the cylinderwhich are secured to the inside surface of the cylinder with one end ofeach tube being essentially coincident with the other end of thecylinder, said one end of each tube defining a separate prong receivingrecess for detachably receiving a corresponding one of said prongs, saidprongs and said tubes defining said detachable locking means.